This article is part of Her Guide to Life, a Bom Bom Girl series on what it takes to thrive as a girl or young woman today.
Body trends come and go faster than fashion trends. One year a certain shape is “in,” the next year it’s something else. If you try to keep up, you’ll never feel finished. Here’s the truth: your body isn’t a trend. It’s the place you live, and it deserves respect no matter what’s popular this season.
See the Edit Behind the Image
A huge share of what you see online has been shaped by lighting, angles, posing, filters, editing apps and now AI. Even the people in the photos often don’t look like their photos. Practice media literacy by asking: Who made this? What do they want me to feel? Are they selling something? Often the answer is yes, and making you feel “not enough” is part of the sale.
Focus on What Your Body Does
Your body lets you dance, laugh, hug people you love, create, travel and get through hard days. Shifting your focus from how it looks to what it does is one of the most powerful mindset changes you can make. Appreciation is a better long-term motivator than criticism.
Care, Not Punishment
Taking care of yourself should feel like kindness, not punishment. That means sleep, movement you enjoy, regular meals, water, doctor checkups and rest. Be cautious of any plan, product or influencer that promises fast changes or makes you feel ashamed. If food, exercise or your appearance starts to feel like it’s taking over your thoughts, talk to a doctor or someone you trust.
Style Is Self-Expression
At Bom Bom Girl, we believe clothes should fit you, not the other way around. Wear what makes you feel comfortable and like yourself. Buy for the body you have today. Style is a way to express who you are, not a test you have to pass.
Change the Conversation
Notice how often friends talk about their bodies negatively, and how often you join in. You can gently change the subject or compliment something that isn’t appearance: someone’s humor, kindness, talent or courage. Small shifts like this make your whole circle a little healthier.
Three Things to Try This Week
- Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about your body, and follow a few that show real, varied bodies.
- Write down three things your body helped you do this week.
- Give a friend a compliment that has nothing to do with how she looks.
Keep going: Read Strong Doesn’t Mean Doing Everything Alone, or see the full Her Guide to Life series.